COVID-19 news! Are you surprised?

Content Warning: mentions of death

Happening in the World: The World Health Organization has declared that Europe is once again the epicenter of the COVID-19 pandemic. Hans Kluge, head of WHO Europe, warned that the continent is expected to see approximately half a million more deaths by February 2022, should infection trends continue. So far, about 1.4 million deaths have been recorded in the region. In the past month, Europe has experienced a 55% increase COVID-19 cases, despite adequate supplies of vaccines. The soaring numbers are said to be attributed to a lack of vaccination initiatives on behalf of the public (BBC).

Happening in the US: Following CDC recommendations, millions of children aged five through eleven are preparing themselves to receive their first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine. Walgreens and CVS pharmacies nationwide are preparing themselves to receive a mass influx of appointments as parents rush to get their children immunized prior to the holiday season. The Biden administration has allotted 15 million vaccine doses to the initiative, with an expected one million doses to be administered this weekend (NYT).

Happening in NYC: Environmentalists and local officials have voiced their concerns regarding New York City’s Champlain Hudson Power Express (CHPE) project, an infrastructure investment expected to provide clean energy across the five boroughs. The project will require a 339-mile-long transmission line that snakes from Lake Champlain to the Hudson and Harlem rivers. Communities in and bordering the Hudson, however, have expressed concerns regarding the inevitable contamination of drinking water supplies that will occur during the installation of the line. Environmental groups are now demanding developers run extensive tests prior to construction, which is set to begin in 2022 (Gothamist).

Happening in Our Community: Join Aix-Marseille University professor Dr. Carlo Rovelli as he discusses his most recent publication Order of Time and Helgoland. During his conversation, Dr. Rovelli will integrate his knowledge as a trained physician to elaborate on the theory of relativity and loop quantum gravity. Interested in attending? Click here for more information.

yay for vaccinated children via Flickr